Schools Building Projects Status

Wednesday, 7 November 2018

Questions (75, 94)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

75. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the recently announced new second-level school for Dunshaughlin, County Meath. [46065/18]

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94. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the significant shortage of school places in the Dunshaughlin catchment area in County Meath; and the measures he plans to take to counteract same. [46095/18]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 94 together.

My Department recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next 4 years (2019 to 2022), including a new 8 classroom primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Dunshaughlin school planning area.

The announcement followed nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country. The requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard to the impact of the increased roll-out of housing provision to meet balanced regional development as outlined in Project Ireland 2040. My Department will also continue to monitor areas where the accommodation of existing schools may need to be expanded in order to meet the needs of the local population. Approximately 40% of extra school places are delivered by extending existing schools.

Regarding the new primary school announced to serve the Dunshaughlin school planning area, this will be established in September 2019 in suitable interim accommodation, pending the delivery of the school’s permanent school building.